Mechanism for assembling sliders for interlocking fastener strips

ABSTRACT

A mechanism for positioning sliders on releasably interlocking rib and groove flexible plastic fasteners which operates to clamp the fastener closed at a closing end of the slider and hold the fastener with the profiles open at the opening end of the slider and press the slider from an engagement position onto the fastener to an operative position with the legs of the slider straddling the rib and groove closure. The mechanism includes a pusher with alternating movement from a slider engaging position to a slider installing position wherein the pusher places the slider on the fastener strips and includes delivery means for bringing individual sliders to said slider engaging position and drive means operating the pusher and the delivery means in phase.

United States Patent Laguerre [54] MECHANISM FOR ASSEMBLING SLIDERS FORINTERLOCKING FASTENER STRIPS Leon Ker Laguerre, Boulogne-sur- Seine,France Assignee: Minlgrlp, lnc., Orangeburg, N.Y.

Filed: Dec. 28, 1970 Appl. No.: 101,582

' Inventor:

Related US. Application Data I Continuation-in-part of Ser. No. 770,023,Oct. 23, 1968.

[30] Foreign Application Priority Data Jan. 26, 1970 I France ..7002667u.s. Cl. ..i29/207.s SL rm. Cl. ..B23p 19/0 2071. ST, 9/20 1 11 R Fieldof Search .;...i'9/207.5 sL', 207311;

[451 Oct. 31, 1972 [56,] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS2,879,588 3/1959 Morin ..29/207.s SL 3,391,442 7/1968 Thaeler...29/201.s SL

Primary Examiner--Thomas l-l. Eager Attorney-Hill, Sherman, Meroni,Gross 8: Simpson [57] ABSTRACT A mechanism for positioning sliders onreleasably interlocking rib and groove flexible plastic fasteners whichoperates to clamp the fastener closed at a closing end of the slider andhold the fastener with the profiles open at the opening end of theslider and press the slider from an engagement position onto thefastener to an operative position with the legs of the slider straddlingthe rib and groove closure. The

' mechanism includes a pusher with alternating movement from a sliderengaging position to a slider installing position wherein the pusherplaces the slider on the fastener strips and includes delivery means forbringing individual sliders to said slider enganging position and drivemeans operating the pusher and l the delivery means in phase.

14 Claims, 8 Drawing Figures PATENTED 3.701.192

1 sum 1 0F 3 v INVENTOR A e00 8/ Zayaerre 'wwzaa %-w; aax y qTToRNEYPATENTED nm 3 1 I972 SHEET 2- 0F 3 Z; INVE NTOR lea/7 Ker AayaerreA'ITORN EY MECHANISM FOR ASSEMBLING SLIDERS FOR INTERLOCKING FASTENERSTRIPS This application is a continuation-in-part of my copendingapplication, Ser. No. 770,023 filed Oct. 23, 1968.

The invention relates to means for the intermittent application andpositioning of sliders on closures comclosing elements comprises, inaddition to the abovesaid engagement pusher of the flexible sliders onthe the said profiled elements and a second clamp adapted,

prising complementary profiled elements capable of of said complementaryprofiled elements and in front of this device, the latter beingarranged-so as to engage the sliders on these profiled elementstransversely to their direction of movement, this sheet servingespedaily for obtaining containers such as bags or pouches. The profiledclosure elements may form part of strips, preferably of plasticmaterial, which are welded at the edges of the said sheet or they may bein a single part with the sheet, which is then preferably obtained withthe elements by extrusion of a plastics material, for example in a formof tube which is split before the positioning of the sliders.

An object of the invention is to provide an improved mechanism whichoperates to repeatedly install sliders on flexible fastener strips in animproved manner and which is capable of continued high productionoperation.

As regards the device according to the invention, for the intermittentapplication of the sliders on a given place of engagement of thesesliders on closures of the type concerned, it includes a pusher adaptedto undergo movements on a predetermined path, of advance and of retreatrelative to the said place and a transverse channel with respect to thispath enabling the introduction on itself of successive sliders by meansof a system for feeding sliders, the pusher being then adapted to pushthe slider that it encounters on its path in the said place, when it isadvanced towards the latter, this device being characterized by the factthat the feed system includes mechanical means ensuring the advance ofthe sliders towards said place, the operation of these mechanical meansbeing phase-locked to the alternate movements of the pusher so as toplace a fresh slider on the path of the pusher on each advance of thelatter towards the aforesaid place.

According to another characteristic of the invention which is usedpreferably at same time, but if necessary it could be used separately,the sliders, especially when they are flexible, are grouped.in a chainin which they are connected by detachable connecting elements.

In a preferred embodiment of the said device, the supply systemincludesmeans adapted to make such a chain of sliders advance in the above-saidchannel by a length equal to the sum of the longitudinal dimensions of aslider and of a connecting element, each time the pusher effects one ofits alternate displacements, more particularly each time that itundergoes a movement of withdrawal.

In the case where the device to enable the direct positioning of sliderson the profiled complementary on the other hand, to produce interlockingat its level of these complementary elements, these clamps serving toimmobilize the closure elements and their support during the positioningof the slider according to another arrangement of the invention. Thepusher is rigidly fixed to a carriage comprising pairs of wheels whoserolling tracks are formed on surfaces of opposite branches of the saidclamps respectively, these surfaces having cam profiles so that theadvance or retreat of the carriage with respect to the above-saidclosures causes respectively the closure or opening of the above-saidgrippers, by :pivoting of their branches around their respective pivotpoints, against the action of the elastic return means.

The invention will, in any case, be well understood 1 with the aid ofthe supplementary description which follows, as well as the accompanyingdrawings, which supplement and drawings relate to a preferred embodimentof the invention.

FIG. 1 of these drawings, shows, in a view from above, a sliderpositioning apparatus according to the invention. I

' FIG. 2 and 3 show, in partial section along 11-11, the apparatus ofFIG. 1, respectively after engagement of a slider and prior to theengagement of a slider, the immobilizing clamps not being shown.

FIG. 4 shows a front view of the apparatus according to FIG. 1. v

FIG. 5 shows, in partial section along FIG. V-V, the apparatus of FIG.1.

FIG. 6 shows, in partial section along VI-VI, the apparatus of FIG. 1.

FIGS. 7 and 8 show respectively in plan and in elevation a chain ofsliders constituted by several sections of which each comprises aplurality of sliders.

It is proposed to construct a device for the intermittent introductionand positioning of sliders 1, on a folded sheet2 (preferably of plasticsmaterial) and advancing in intermittent manner with respect to theabove-said device in the direction of the arrow F (FIG. 1 and 4). Thesaid sheet forms along and between its edges 3, a longitudinal slit 4(FIGS. 3, 4) capable of a being enclosed by the interlocking ofcomplementary elements 6, 6a. This sheet 2 is guided and driven (in thedirection of the arrow F) by rollers 7, 7a (FIG. 4) for example towardsa cutting and welding apparatus (not shown), adapted to cut off thesheet into sections and to weld on to one another the two opposite facesof the sheet along the line of cut, so that each section forms a bag ofplastics material.

The device for the application and positioning of sliders according tothe invention thus comprises a pusher 8, actuated for example by a jack10, adapted to undergo advancing and retreating movements, with respectto the emplacement 5 for the positioning of sliders 1' on thecomplementary profiled elements 6, 6a of the folded sheet 2, thesemovements having a direction perpendicular to that of the advance of thesheet. A channel 9, transverse with respect to the 3 movement of theslider, enables the introduction on the latter of successivesliders 1 bymeans of 'a slide supply system 11, the pusher 8 being then adapted topush the slider that it encounters on its path in the said emplacement5, when it is advanced towards the latter, the operation of the supplysystem being phase-locked to the alternate deplacements of the pusher 8so as to place afresh slider 1 on the path of the pusher, each time thatthe latter advances towards the aforesaid emplacement 5. a

Although recourse may be had to any other means for the supply in orderto ensure the advance of sliders through the supply system recourse isadvantageously had to the arrangement of the invention usable besides inother devices for positioning sliders and according to which thesliders1 form a chain 12 in which the sliders 1 are connected by detachableconnecting elements 13,

I the supply system being arranged so as to cause this chain to advancein the above-said channel 9 by a length equal to the sum of thelongitudinal dimensions of a slider 1 and of a connecting element 13,each time that the pusher 8 effects one of its alternate displacements,especially of retreat. The positioning device comprises, in addition,advantageously holding members for the connecting elements 13 adjacentto that of the sliders which is pushed back by the pusher 8, so as tofacilitate its detachment from the chain. So that there are connectingelements 13 on both parts of each slider, the chain comprises suchelements at each of its ends.

The chain of sliders, which must, especially in the case of positioningby displacement transverse to the advance of the sheet have a certainelasticity, is advantageously made of plastics material, especially bymoulding.

Toconstitute chains of great length, preferably rollable to form aspool, it may be advantageous to produce such chains by several sectionof which each comprises a plurality of sliders, for example twentysliders and which are connected between themselvesby any suitablemechanism. 1 I The use of moulds of a large size is thus avoided, thelength of the moulds corresponding to a section.

In FIGS. 7 and 8 are shown two sections of chain 12a and 12b ofsliders 1. At the ends of the sections are provided linking elements 13aand 13b comprising respectively the pins 13c and the holes 13d, which,by their mutual interlocking, enable consecutive sections to be unitedtogether to form the complete chain.

The sliders 1 contained in this chain, which are intended to slidestraddled on the closure constituted by the complementary elements 5, a,include advantageously (FIG. 3), as already known, a small plate 14bearing, on one hand, two lateral walls 16, 16a bounding, in the insideof the slider, a channel with convergent walls ensuring the interlockingof the closure elements, and on the other hand, a median partition 17acting as the separating wedge and extending over a portion of thelength of the slider, these lateral walls and/or this median partitionbeing provided with end shoulders 18 ensuring the holding of the sliderson the closure after their positioning. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 8, thelinking elements 13 have advantageously, in the immediate neighborhoodof the adjacent sliders, bevelled forms enabling easy separation ofthese sliders from these linking elements.

The supply system includes advantageously, to cause step-by-step advanceof the chain of sliders, each time by the desired length, a wheel 19having, at its periphery, slots 21 in which may be partially housed thesliders l, the said wheel 19 being driven by the pusher 8, especiallywhen the latter retreats, by means of a lever 22 pivoting around theaxis of the wheel 19 and having two arms 23 and 24 extending radially;the arm 23 bearing a catch 26 adapted to engage successively in each ofthe slots 21 and the arm 24 being hinged to a driving rod 27 long whichcan slide, between two stops 28 and 29, a part 31 rigidly fixed to thepusher 8 or to an element 46 fixed to this pusher.

The supply system can again comprise a catch 32 hinged around a fixedaxle adapted to be engaged successively in each of the slots 21 toprevent the wheel 19 from effecting a rotation opposite to that whichresults from the action of the lever 22 and the catch 26.

The elements 13 have a height less than that of the sliders, whichenables these latter to be engaged in the slots 21. v

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the wheel 19 is driven in anticlockwisedirection when the pusher 8 retreats. The wheel 19 is advantageouslyarranged tangentially to the channel 9, the latter being then downstreamof the wheel 19.

The chain of sliders is guided, upstream of the wheel 19, by a support25. The engagement of the sliders with the slots 21 of the wheel 19 isensured by a guiding wall 30 which extends between the support 25 andthe channel 9 and which is concentric with the wheel 19.

In a variation, recourse is had, in a place of a singlewheel 19, to twocoaxial wheels rigidly fixed in rotation of which one is in engagementwith the chain of sliders, while the other constitutes simply apawl-driven toothed wheel. Moreover, the catch 32 can be replaced by afriction brake.

The above-said retaining members of the connecting elements 13 adjacentto that of the slider which is separated from the chain 12 and urged bythe pusher 8 towards the emplacement 5, to be engaged on thecomplementary elements 6, 6a of the folded sheet, comprise, in one oftheir preferred embodiments, support surfaces 37, 37a when the pusherurges the corresponding slider toward the emplacement 5.

As shown in FIG. 2, the stops 38, 38a are constituted by pins mounted insliding manner in housings 40, 40a provided in the pusher 8, thecompression springs 39, 39a and the bottoms 41, 41a FIG. 2 of thehousing, 40, 40a.

The assembly of sliders in form of a chain which has just been describedlends itself particularly well to the positioning of elastic sliderswhich are positioned by transverse engagement of the latter on strips orsheets provided with complementary profiled elements 5, 5a under theaforesaid conditions and subject to intermittent movements in thedirection of these profiled elements, it being understood however thatthe same assembly could also be used with advantage for the mounting ofsliders on these profiled elements in any other manner, especially bylongitudinal engagement.

Regarding more particularly the construction of a positioning device bytransverse engagement of the I slider on complementary profiled elementsof the type concerned, this device could be made to include, in a mannerknown in itself, a first clamp 42 upstream of the pusher, coacting witha spacer 43-separating permanently the supports of the said profiledelements and including grooves 63a,.63to receive these profiled elementsand a second clamp 44 downstream of the pusher, the gripping of theclamp 42 (to apply the supports of the complementary profiled elementson the spacer) and of the clamp 44 (to interlock the complementaryprofiled elements at its level) being actuated simultaneously with theadvance of the pusher 8 which is then able to produce the engagement ofa slider on the profiled elements, when the latter immobilized.

To ensure these simultaneous actions, recourse is advantageously had toa carriage of which the abovementioned element 46 forms part, rigidlyfixed to the support of the pusher 8 and of the stops 38, 38a andincluding pairs of wheels 47, 48 of which the rolling paths are formed(FIGS. 5 and 6) on surfaces of opposite arms 42a, 42b and 44a, 44brespectively of the said clamps 42, 44 these surfaces being cam-shapedso that the advance or retreat of the carriage 47, 47a, 48 with respectto the above-said profiled elements cause limited 'to 'tho'seof'itsmethods of application, nor to those of its methods of production of itsvarious parts, which have been more particularly considered, itembraces, on the'contrary, all variations.

respectively the closing or opening of the above-said clamps, bypivoting of their arms 42a, 42b and 44a, 44b

around their respective hinge points 420, 44c, this action taking placeagainst the action of elastic return members 49 or 51 for the openingand under the action of return members for the closing.

In the embodiment shown, the pairs of wheels 47, 47 and 48, 48 of thecarriage cooperate with the opposite external surfaces 52a, 52b and 53a,53b of the arms of each of the clamps, the elastic return members 49 and51 respectively being arranged between the arms of the said clamps (FIG.5, 6). v

This arrangement appears more particularly in FIGS. 4 and 5 which showthe shapes of the surfaces 52, 52a and 53, 53a, which shapes include, inthe neighborhood of those of the ends of the clamps 42 and 44 which areseparated from the folded sheet 2, respectively bosses 55a, 55b, and56a, 56b.

The clamps are opened and thus enable the advance of the folded sheet 2when the rollers 47 and 48 are in contact respectively with the bosses55a, 55b and 56a, 56b.

The height of the bosses 56a, 56b is sufficiently great to enable thepassage of the folded sheet with a slider positioned on it when theclamp 44 is open.

The movements of the jack 10 which actuates the pusher 8 and thecarriage 46, 47, 48 are synchronized so that with the intermittentadvance of the folded sheet 2, this sheet becomes arrested in the periodduring which the pusher places a slider on the complementary closureelements of the sheet after having, in its travel toward the edges ofthe folded sheet 2, separated this slider from the linking elements 12.Once the positioning of a slider has been accomplished, the sheet 2 isadvanced by an amount which corresponds to the width of a bag or pouch.From the start of this movement, the two clamps 42 and 44 are open. Atthe end of this movement, the clamps close again and another slider ispositioned on the folded sheet.

By means of the invention, the positioning of the sliders on the closingelements is effected, not only entirely automatically, but also withgreat precision.

As is self-evident, and as emerges besides from this precedingdescription, the invention is in no way I I Claim:

'1. A device for positioning sliders on complementary profiled closureelements which comprises, a pusher with alternating movements from aslider engaging position to a slider installing position wherein thepusher places a slider on a closure element with the closure elementsbeing stationary, delivery means for bringing individual sliders to saidslider engaging position, and drive means operating the pusher and thedelivery means in phase.

2. A device according to claim 1, including means for advancing theclosure elements with the alternating movement of the pusher beingperpendicular to the direction of the advance of the closure elements,the sliders to be positioned having an elasticity to be able to broadenslightly on their positioning movement and to be attached at the end ofthe movement of the pusher behind projections formed by the closureelements.

3. A device according to claim 1 characterized by the delivery meansoperating on a plurality of sliders which are united by detachableconnecting elements to form a chain in which the sliders and theconnecting elements alternate.

' 4. A device according to claim 3 characterized by the drive meansincluding an indexing wheel which is in engagement with the saidchainand which is driven in intermittent manner as a function of themovements of the pusher.

5. A device according to claim 3, characterized by the fact that theends of the connecting elements between two consecutive sliders arebevelled in order to facilitate the separation of each slider from theconnecting elements which are on both sides of the slider;

6. A deviceaccording to claim 3, characterized by the fact that on bothsides of the pusher are provided elastic stops which engage the theconnecting elements on both sides of a slider urging them against fixedsupport surfaces between which the said slider passes, so that thepusher separates the slider from the chain of sliders.

7. A device according to claim 6, characterized by the fact that theelastic stops include displaceable pins in a housing supporting thepusher, compression springs are provided between the pins and the bottomof the housing, and a stop at then opposite to the bottom of eachhousing ensures the retraction of the pins when the pusher moves to saidslider engaging position.

8. A device according to claim 1 including strip clamps operated insynchronism with the movements of the pusher.

9. A device according to claim 8, including cam means operated by saiddrive means for operating the clamps.

10. A device according to claim 1 including means for locking theclosure element in position.

11. A device according to claim 3 including a linking element at the twoends of the chain.

12. A device according to claim 3 wherein said connecting elements areof uniform length.

13. A device according to claim 12, characterized by the fact that thelinking elements are constituted by pins andholes which occur at theends of the chains to be united. I p

14. A mechanism for positioning sliders on complementary profile closureelements constructed in accordance with claim 1 and including means forholding 5 the closure elements separated at an opening end of the sliderand for holding the closure elements together at a closing end of theslider at said slider installing position.

I: I I l I UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION3,701,192 Dated- October 31, 1972 Patent No.

InventQr(S) Leon Ker Laguerre It is certified that error appears in theabove-identified patent and that said Letters Patent are herebycorrected as shown below:

In the Abstract, line l5,- after "slider", change "enganging" to--engaging--. I v 3 Column 4, line 45, after "37a", insert- -inextension of the channel 9, on both sides of the path on which thepusher 8 is moved, and retractable stops 38, 38a in the form of pinswhich come under the action of compression springs 39, 39a and which areborneby the pusher, these stops applying and holding the above -saidadjacent detachable elements 13 against the said support surfaces 37,37a-- line 50, after "'39a", insert --being respectivelyinterposedhetween the pins 38, 38a--.'

Column 5, line 3, change "63" to --63b--.

Signed and sealed this 9th day of April 197M (SEAL) Attest:

EDWARD PLFLETCHER IR. C. MARSHALL DANN Atte sting Officer- Commissionerof Patents

1. A device for positioning sliders on complementary profiled closureelements which comprises, a pusher with alternating movements from aslider engaging position to a slider installing position wherein thepusher places a slider on a closure element with the closure elementsbeing stationary, delivery means for bringing individual sliders to saidslider engaging position, and drive means operating the pusher and thedelivery means in phase.
 2. A device according to claim 1, includingmeans for advancing the closure elements with the alternating movementof the pusher being perpendicular to the direction of the advance of theclosure elements, the sliders to be positioned having an elasticity tobe able to broaden slightly on their positioning movement and to beattached at the end of the movement of the pusher behind projectionsformed by the closure elements.
 3. A device according to claim 1characterized by the delivery means operating on a plurality of sliderswhich are united by detachable connecting elements to form a chain inwhich the sliders and the connecting elements alternate.
 4. A deviceaccording to claim 3 characterized by the drive means including anindexing wheel which is in engagement with the said chain and which isdriven in intermittent manner as a function of the movements of thepusher.
 5. A device according to claim 3, characterized by the fact thatthe ends of the connecting elements between two consecutive sliders arebevelled in order to facilitate the separation of each slider from theconnectIng elements which are on both sides of the slider.
 6. A deviceaccording to claim 3, characterized by the fact that on both sides ofthe pusher are provided elastic stops which engage the the connectingelements on both sides of a slider urging them against fixed supportsurfaces between which the said slider passes, so that the pusherseparates the slider from the chain of sliders.
 7. A device according toclaim 6, characterized by the fact that the elastic stops includedisplaceable pins in a housing supporting the pusher, compressionsprings are provided between the pins and the bottom of the housing, anda stop at the end opposite to the bottom of each housing ensures theretraction of the pins when the pusher moves to said slider engagingposition.
 8. A device according to claim 1 including strip clampsoperated in synchronism with the movements of the pusher.
 9. A deviceaccording to claim 8, including cam means operated by said drive meansfor operating the clamps.
 10. A device according to claim 1 includingmeans for locking the closure element in position.
 11. A deviceaccording to claim 3 including a linking element at the two ends of thechain.
 12. A device according to claim 3 wherein said connectingelements are of uniform length.
 13. A device according to claim 12,characterized by the fact that the linking elements are constituted bypins and holes which occur at the ends of the chains to be united.
 14. Amechanism for positioning sliders on complementary profile closureelements constructed in accordance with claim 1 and including means forholding the closure elements separated at an opening end of the sliderand for holding the closure elements together at a closing end of theslider at said slider installing position.